Chloe was still replaying the conversation with her brothers in her mind when her phone buzzed in her hand. The vibration cut through her thoughts, pulling her back into the present. She glanced at Marcus, who was guiding her out of the hospital, before answering.“Hello,” she said, her voice steady despite the swirl of emotions inside her.“It’s Dan,” the familiar voice on the other end stated, a coolness in his tone that Chloe had learned to despise. “I’m sending you the address. I’ll see you there in an hour.”Chloe’s grip on the phone tightened. She didn’t need to ask what the meeting was about; she already knew. “Fine,” she replied curtly, ending the call before he could say anything else.“Marcus,” she said, her voice firm but quiet, “do you know a place called The Ember Lounge?”He glanced over at her. “Yes, ma’am. It’s a discreet café, not too far from here.”Chloe paused, weighing her options. Part of her wanted to get the meeting over with as quickly as possible, but she cou
The boardroom at Westbrook Industries was filled with a heavy sense of tension. The sleek glass walls did nothing to ease the heavy atmosphere inside. Chloe sat at the head of the long table, sitting up straight, but she could feel the intense gaze of the board members on her. They weren’t just looking for answers; they were waiting for her to fail.The soft hum of the air conditioning did little to silence the rustling papers and shifting chairs as the board members prepared for the meeting. Chloe could hear the low murmur of whispers between some of the more senior members, including Mr. Sterling, whose deep voice carried over the rest. She could almost feel his disapproving glare from across the table.As Marcus handed out the agenda, Chloe took a deep breath, mentally steeling herself for what she knew would be a difficult meeting. The company’s stock had continued to plunge, and the board was growing restless. Uncle Henry, sitting comfortably at the far end of the table, hadn’
"And you are?" Mr Sterling asked in a cautious voice..Leo turned to him, extending a hand. "Leo King," he introduced himself. "I believe my presence here should help alleviate some of the concerns regarding new investors. Ms. Westbrook and I have been discussing my potential involvement in the company. I’m here to offer my support—and my capital."The boardroom was filled with murmurs as the realization sank in. Leo King’s name carried weight. He wasn’t just some random investor; he was a major player, and his backing could turn everything around.Chloe sat quietly for a moment, allowing the significance of Leo’s words to sink in. The tight feeling that had been gripping her moments ago started to fade, giving way to a feeling of careful hope. Leo had just thrown her a lifeline."I believe that should address the concerns regarding new investors," Chloe said in a steady voice as she regained her composure. "Mr. King’s investment will provide the capital we need to stabilize Westbrook
Chloe stood frozen for a moment after Uncle Henry left the boardroom, his threats still echoing in her mind. The casual way he had implied he could ruin her was unnerving, but Chloe knew better than to let fear show. Henry was waiting for her to crumble, but that wasn’t going to happen. Not today.She inhaled deeply, dialing Marcus. Her voice, when she spoke, was steady. "Marcus, come get me. I’m heading back to the office."Marcus was quick, arriving within minutes. He helped guide her out of the boardroom, his presence as calm and professional as always. Chloe leaned on her cane, grateful for his support but still determined to walk on her own. Her mind, however, was anything but calm.As they made their way to her office, Chloe’s thoughts drifted to Leo. He had walked in at just the right moment during the meeting, his confidence and charm easing the tension in the room instantly. He’d thrown her a lifeline when she needed it most, but now she was left wondering—what did he want
The next three days passed in a blur for Chloe. Her life had become a repetitive triangle—work, the Westbrook Estate, and City General Hospital. Everything happened quickly, but during the calm times, the heaviness of it all still weighed on her. Leo’s investment had pulled through, and for the first time in days, the stock was rising, offering a glimmer of hope that she was doing something right. The board members had loosened their grip on her, their pressure finally easing.But Uncle Henry? Silent. That was the unnerving part. He hadn’t said anything since his veiled threats during their last confrontation. Chloe knew that silence meant he was scheming.Sitting in her office, she focused on the present as Marcus gave her the latest updates. His voice was steady, always calm, always reliable, but today there was a hint of something lighter."You did it, boss," Marcus said, his tone almost proud.Chloe shook her head, smiling slightly. "No, we did it," she corrected. "Thanks, Marcu
Chloe arrived at the restaurant with Marcus by her side, the evening air cool against her skin as they stepped out of the car. She could sense the buzz of the city, the distant hum of traffic, and the faint clatter of dishes from within the restaurant. As Marcus gently guided her inside, she took a deep breath, steadying herself."Ms. Westbrook, welcome." An attendant greeted them the moment they entered. His voice was smooth and polished. "Mr. King is expecting you. This way, please."Chloe nodded, feeling a flutter of nerves. She knew Leo was waiting, but she wasn’t entirely sure what to expect.Marcus remained close, leading her further into the restaurant, the subtle sounds of clinking glasses and murmured conversations filling the air. The scent of grilled meats and rich spices wafted around them.As they approached the private dining area, Chloe could feel the eyes of the patrons on her. She wasn’t sure if it was because of who she was, or simply because of her striking entranc
"I try to keep things interesting," Leo replied with a teasing note in his voice. "But enough about me. How are things going with the company? Now that the board’s off your back, at least for the moment."Chloe sighed softly, the tension of the past few weeks catching up with her. "It’s a little less chaotic now, but it’s still a mess. The company’s stable, thanks to your investment, but there’s so much work to be done. And then there’s my family..." Her voice trailed off, and she took another sip of wine, gathering her thoughts.Leo's tone became gentler, and his voice showed real care. "How are your parents and brothers doing?"Chloe hesitated for a moment, unsure how much to reveal. "They’re... stable," she said slowly. "My brothers are recovering, but the doctors are still running tests on all of them. It’s just... a lot to handle."Leo’s gaze never left her. "I can’t imagine what you’re going through, Chloe. Managing the company while your family’s in the hospital... It’s more th
“Leo, what—”Before she could finish, she felt Leo’s hand on hers, firm and protective.“Chloe, get down!”Chloe barely had time to react to Leo’s command before she felt herself being pulled down from her chair. The abrupt motion sent a jolt of fear through her, and her pulse quickened as she crouched low under the table. Her mind raced to make sense of the sudden shift from a peaceful dinner to this terrifying darkness.The restaurant, which had been filled with the pleasant hum of conversation, was now eerily quiet. Chloe’s heightened senses picked up on the sharp tension in the air, the muffled sounds of movement, and distant shouts—things she hadn’t noticed before. Something was very wrong.She felt Leo beside her. "Stay low," he whispered urgently, his hand still on her arm. "Don’t move until I tell you."Chloe swallowed hard, her heart pounding in her chest. “What’s going on?” she asked in a barely audible voice.There was no answer, just the steady grip of Leo’s hand on her
The ride to the hospital was calm, with the sound of the car engine providing a steady background to Chloe’s thoughts. She had asked Leo to take her there to see her brothers first before driving her home.Sitting beside Leo, she found herself nervously fidgeting with the hem of her shirt.“You’re unusually quiet,” Leo said softly, his voice breaking the silence.Chloe tilted her head in his direction, offering a faint smile. “Just thinking,” she admitted. “About Adam and Francis. I can’t imagine how worried they’ve been.”“They’ll feel better seeing you,” Leo reassured her. “It’ll do them good to know you’re safe.”She nodded, her fingers tightening slightly on the fabric. “Thank you for bringing me here. I couldn’t go home without seeing them first.”The hospital came into sight, its plain outside shining softly in the afternoon light. As they pulled into the driveway, Chloe took a deep breath, steeling herself for what was sure to be an emotional reunion.Inside, the soft beeping o
Morning light filtered softly through the curtains, casting muted shadows across the guest room. Chloe stirred beneath the warm covers, her senses gradually awakening to the faint scent of lavender lingering in the air. The sound of a low, hushed voice caught her attention, drawing her from the edges of sleep.She remained still, her head resting lightly against the pillow, as she strained to catch the words.“...need to find out who it was,” Leo’s voice murmured in a firm but quiet voice. “I don’t care what it takes. They targeted her, and I won’t let it go unanswered.”There was a pause, presumably the other person responding. Leo’s tone softened but held its edge. “Just keep me updated. I want answers soon.”The line clicked off, and Chloe heard the faint rustle of movement. She let her breathing remain slow and even, unsure if she should acknowledge what she’d overheard. Before she could decide, Leo’s voice broke the quiet again.“Chloe?” he said softly, closer now. “You’re awak
The dining room grew quiet again as the remnants of their dinner were cleared away. Chloe sat back in her chair, her fingers tracing the edge of her napkin. Despite the tension of the past few days, this moment of calm felt precious, even fleeting. She exhaled softly, feeling her shoulders relax for the first time since the ordeal began.“Chloe,” Leo began, breaking the silence with a thoughtful tone. “Would you like to take a stroll? Stretch your legs a bit?”She tilted her head, intrigued. “A stroll?”“Just around the mansion,” he said. “It’s quiet this time of night. I can show you the garden, maybe even the library if you’d like.”Her lips quirked into a faint smile. “A guided tour of the Leo King estate? How could I say no?”Leo chuckled as he stood, moving to her side to offer his arm. “Shall we?”Chloe hesitated for a moment before taking his arm. “You’re the one who’s supposed to be resting, you know,” she reminded him in a teasing tone.“I’ll be fine,” he replied smoothly. “
When Chloe woke up, the room was a bit dark and silent. The gentle sound of the air conditioning and the far-off footsteps were all that suggested that there was life in the mansion somewhere. Chloe was now lying in bed, feeling the soft mattress underneath her, which was very different from the chair where she had dozed off.She sat up slowly, disoriented for a moment. Her hands brushed against the soft sheets, and a faint scent of lavender lingered in the air. The faint ache in her muscles from the events of the day before made her sigh softly.“You’re finally awake,” a familiar voice said from somewhere nearby in a warm and teasing tone.Chloe turned her head toward the sound, a small smile tugging at her lips. “Leo,” she said softly. “You’re out of bed. You shouldn’t be up. You should be resting.”“Don’t tell me you’re going to be one of those grumpy nurses who would keep me in bed all day if they could,” he quipped with a faint chuckle in his voice.Chloe couldn’t help but laugh
The room was still and quiet, the only sound you could hear was the soft, rhythmic beeping of the monitors beside Leo’s bed. Shadows from the dim overhead light played across the walls, creating a calm amidst the storm that had torn through the night.Chloe sat slumped in the chair beside him, her head resting on the edge of his bed. Her breathing was soft, her face turned slightly toward him, her fingers still curled around his hand as if even in sleep, she couldn’t let him go.Leo’s eyes fluttered open slowly, his vision hazy and blurred at first. The ache in his chest was a dull throb, a reminder of the bullet that had narrowly missed his heart. He blinked, the fog lifting as his gaze focused on the figure beside him.Chloe.For a moment, he simply watched her. Strands of her hair fell across her face, and her lips were parted slightly in the relaxed stillness of sleep. Despite the exhaustion evident in the dark circles beneath her eyes, there was a softness to her features that
The room was dimly lit, filled with sweat and the smell of cigarette smoke. Signs of earlier chaos were everywhere, with debris scattered around and chairs turned over. The man in charge of the kidnap, a wiry man with a gaunt face and sharp, hawk-like eyes, paced back and forth, his boots thudding heavily against the concrete floor.Before him, three men knelt, their faces bruised, blood trickling down from cuts on their foreheads and lips. Each bore the aftermath of a mission gone disastrously wrong, but they kept their heads bowed, too terrified to meet their leader’s burning gaze.The wiry man suddenly stopped, his eyes narrowing on the closest man. “Just thirty damn minutes. Thirty!” he snarled, his voice echoing sharply against the cold, bare walls. “I told you to watch her, to keep her contained. All you had to do was scare her. Make her sweat a little. That’s it!”He took a step closer, his fists clenched at his sides. “And not only do you mess it up,” he growled, his voice dr
The office building had grown eerily quiet, the usual hum of activity replaced by the oppressive weight of uncertainty. Marcus paced in Chloe’s office, her cane and phone resting on the desk where he’d placed them after retrieving them from the floor outside. Every so often, his eyes darted to his watch. Over an hour had passed since Leo had taken off with Chloe. No updates. No calls.Marcus stared at his phone, his thumb hovering over Leo’s number. He’d called twice already, and each time, the line went straight to voicemail. “Damn it,” he muttered under his breath, shoving the phone back into his pocket.The silence in the room felt deafening. Marcus’s mind raced with worst-case scenarios. What if something had gone wrong? What if the men who had taken Chloe had backup? What if—No. He shook his head, forcing himself to stay calm. Leo would handle it. He promised he would. But the nagging feeling in his gut told him otherwise. He had waited long enough.Taking a deep breath, Marcu
Anton gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles white as he pressed the accelerator, speeding through the city’s streets with no regard for traffic lights or the blare of honking horns. The SUV roared past intersections, weaving through traffic like a predator hunting its prey. In the back seat, Chloe held Leo’s limp body against her, her tears staining his shirt as she tried to steady him.Her chest heaved with sobs, her mind consumed with guilt. “This is my fault,” she whispered in a trembling voice. “He’s hurt because of me. If I hadn’t been—”“Enough!” Anton’s voice interrupted her. “He’s not dead yet, so stop crying over him like he is. Save it for later, when he can yell at you himself.”Chloe flinched at his tone, biting her lip to hold back her tears. She knew he was right—her tears wouldn’t help Leo now—but the feel of his blood soaking through his shirt, his shaky breaths, and the shallow rise and fall of his chest shattered her resolve. She nodded weakly, holding
A moment later, another set of footsteps entered the room—a slower and more deliberate one.“Chloe?” The familiar voice called out.Chloe’s breath caught in her throat. “Leo?” she whispered, disbelief and relief flooding her at once.Leo’s voice was calm yet clear, piercing the musty atmosphere of the dimly lit room. “I’d be careful if I were you.” His gun was raised, trained with deadly precision on the man holding Chloe.The kidnapper paused for a moment, keeping his gun aimed at Chloe, his hand tightening around the handle. “You wouldn’t put her life in danger,” he sneered, but the slight tremor in his voice revealed his doubt.Leo’s eyes burned with cold fury. “You think I won’t put a bullet in your head before you can even pull that trigger?” His words carried no bravado, only the lethal certainty of a man who had done worse for less.The man hesitated, his resolve faltering under Leo’s intense gaze. “I just do my job, alright? Nothing personal. You want her back? Let me walk out